Matt Henderson: G27 Oilers vs Flames: About Russell And That Goal

Matt Henderson: G27 Oilers vs Flames: About Russell And That Goal
- Matt_Henderson

Suck it Jenny hockey™

The forward lines seemed a bit thin on Thursday. I get you wanna spread the wealth around but they just seemed too sparse on each line.

4th line was great.
McDavid is McDavid but doesn't need lucic on his line at all
RNH line was nondescript. I don't even recall Slepyshev playing.
Draisaitl needs more than Strome and Caggiula

I disagree about that goal.

He tried to clear it twice by backhanding it, but the puck bounced twice on the ice and avoided any contact with his stick ( the first contact had a weird bounce to it). Once he lost his proximity/angle with regards to the puck, he tried to put the puck into a corner and allow a nearby Oiler to sweep up the puck. At that point, it was a battle of who would get contact with the puck first. Unfortunately, Kadri blocked Russel's line of movement. Had he not done that and tried to backhand it one more time, more likely than not, Kadri would have stick lifted Russell's stick and taken a shot on goal.

Couple that with perfectly shooting it through LB's 5-hole............. with 1 minute remaining.......... along with a black helmet sliding between Russell and Kadri (surprised none of them thought that it was the puck and tried to hit the helmet xD)..... that has bad luck written all over it

Is he worth 4m/4y...... hellllllllllll noooooo. But regardless, he has had a solid few games during the past week.

I disagree about that goal.

He tried to clear it twice by backhanding it, but the puck bounced twice on the ice and avoided any contact with his stick ( the first contact was a poor one). Once he lost his proximity/angle with regards to the puck, he tried to put the puck into a corner and allow a nearby Oiler to sweep up the puck. At that point, it was a battle of who would get contact with the puck first. Unfortunately, Kadri blocked Russel's line of movement. Had he not done that and tried to backhand it one more time, more likely than not, Kadri would have stick lifted Russell's stick and taken a shot on goal.

Is he worth 4m/4y...... hellllllllllll noooooo. But regardless, he has had a solid few games during the past week.
- EdmHockeyMan

Wrong. He panicked and fuked up. Period. It happens sometimes. This was just rather glaring due to the circumstances.

The forward lines seemed a bit thin on Thursday. I get you wanna spread the wealth around but they just seemed too sparse on each line.

4th line was great.
McDavid is McDavid but doesn't need lucic on his line at all
RNH line was nondescript. I don't even recall Slepyshev playing.
Draisaitl needs more than Strome and Caggiula
- walshyleafsfan

Therein lies the rub.
We have no scoring depth.
And we’re easy to mark when we stack the top line.
Best case leon is on nuges wing but they just don’t click for some reason.

Until someone emerges out of puju/slep/strome/Yamamoto/benson etc, we will continue to be an average at best team I think.

We could maybe overcome that if Leon earns that pay check and is far more dominant and dangerous. He’s really frustrating some nights. We paid u like an elite superstar, now carry a line on your own


As far as the russel blog- agreed. Sure, he’s a blood and guts guy, but he totally destroyed what was a pretty inspired 2nd and 3rd. Such a letdown to walk away with nothing there.
And his contract is atrocious and should be
Part of the reason we’re Seriously considering firing chiarelli

I had this vision of the canes continuing to nosedive and us going after skinner.

He’d solve our issues.

Don’t stomp on my dreams

Wrong. He panicked and fuked up. Period. It happens sometimes. This was just rather glaring due to the circumstances.
- Iggysbff

But look at the replay. The unlucky bounces are evident with regards to how the puck bounced in a weird manner not once, but twice. He tried to clear it, but couldn't due to how the puck bounced off the ice.

Also, wouldn't the circumstances and result make the whole situation considered unlucky in the first place? The puck bounces off the ice in a weird way not once, but twice, 1 minute left, right through LB's 5-hole, a black helmet sliding between the two players.

Regardless, such a poopty way to end a game.

Therein lies the rub.
We have no scoring depth.
And we’re easy to mark when we stack the top line.
Best case leon is on nuges wing but they just don’t click for some reason.

- HB77

It's crazy how one offseason changes that aspect of our team.

Maroon-McD-LD
Lucic-RNH-Ebs
Pouliot-Jewels-Pulj
Slepy/Khaira-Letetsu-Kassian

@HB77

On Draisaitl, I know it's tough but the guy is still 22 and learning consistency and adjusting to playing without a fast linemate (major need). It's not an uncommon thing for young players to have these sorts of problems so- while I understand your frustrations- just make sure you don't go down the road of driving the guy out of town just because he isn't immediately everything we want/need him to be.

He's on the first 25 games of an 8 year deal thatll carry him until he's almost 30; he's got plenty of time to build consistency and dominance away from Connor.

I had this vision of the canes continuing to nosedive and us going after skinner.

He’d solve our issues.

Don’t stomp on my dreams
- HB77

Oh gimme some of that Skinner action all day long Brilliant skater, volume shooter, goal scoring; everything we need in a Leon linemate!

@HB77

On Draisaitl, I know it's tough but the guy is still 22 and learning consistency and adjusting to playing without a fast linemate (major need). It's not an uncommon thing for young players to have these sorts of problems so- while I understand your frustrations- just make sure you don't go down the road of driving the guy out of town just because he isn't immediately everything we want/need him to be.

He's on the first 25 games of an 8 year deal thatll carry him until he's almost 30; he's got plenty of time to build consistency and dominance away from Connor.
- MaximumBone

He's not being paid 8.5 million to give him time. He's being paid 8.5 mill to dominate and be a top guy period. He will never live up to that contract trying to drive his own line.

@HB77

On Draisaitl, I know it's tough but the guy is still 22 and learning consistency and adjusting to playing without a fast linemate (major need). It's not an uncommon thing for young players to have these sorts of problems so- while I understand your frustrations- just make sure you don't go down the road of driving the guy out of town just because he isn't immediately everything we want/need him to be.

He's on the first 25 games of an 8 year deal thatll carry him until he's almost 30; he's got plenty of time to build consistency and dominance away from Connor.
- MaximumBone

Without a fast linemate? Pretty sure McDavid is fast... Even on the RNH line, RNH can definitely hold his own when it comes to speed.

My favorite comparable to him, Kopitar, was only getting better at this point. Even your favorite comparable, Backstrom was only getting better as well. Sure, LD might have a different learning curve, but he has got to pick it up sooner than later.

He's not being paid 8.5 million to give him time. He's being paid 8.5 mill to dominate and be a top guy period. He will never live up to that contract trying to drive his own line.
- Iggysbff

Exactly.

Good luck tonight gents! Hopefully McGod doesn’t destroy us again...

But look at the replay. The unlucky bounces are evident with regards to how the puck bounced in a weird manner not once, but twice. He tried to clear it, but couldn't due to how the puck bounced off the ice.

Also, wouldn't the circumstances and result make the whole situation considered unlucky in the first place? The puck bounces off the ice in a weird way not once, but twice, 1 minute left, right through LB's 5-hole, a black helmet sliding between the two players.

Regardless, such a poopty way to end a game.
- EdmHockeyMan

None of that matters. Keep body position and settle the puck and move it up ice. Don't panic and slap it at your own net from 10 feet out.

Brandon Davidson on waivers, played pretty good for the Oilers.

Brandon Davidson on waivers, played pretty good for the Oilers.
- shack67

Picking him up would mean sending Jesse down or waiving someone else. So probably not.

Rim it Jero!

Good luck tonight gents! Hopefully McGod doesn’t destroy us again...
- Clyde334

That’s the thing with him. Every team has a star player but that (frank)er can throw 5 points up when he’s on his game. Good luck.

@HB77

On Draisaitl, I know it's tough but the guy is still 22 and learning consistency and adjusting to playing without a fast linemate (major need). It's not an uncommon thing for young players to have these sorts of problems so- while I understand your frustrations- just make sure you don't go down the road of driving the guy out of town just because he isn't immediately everything we want/need him to be.

He's on the first 25 games of an 8 year deal thatll carry him until he's almost 30; he's got plenty of time to build consistency and dominance away from Connor.
- MaximumBone

I have no interest in dealing him away or hating on him

My anger is on chia..
Leon’s young and shoulda been bridged for at least a year to prove that he can drive his own line and dominate .

Now, we’re paying him like he can for 8 years and we don’t actually know it

He's not being paid 8.5 million to give him time. He's being paid 8.5 mill to dominate and be a top guy period. He will never live up to that contract trying to drive his own line.
- Iggysbff

You can make that argument but this is just the Hall and Eberle contracts of yore. You're not JUST paying for what he can do now, you're paying for what he'll be able to do down the line a few years.

You can hate on Chiarelli for giving him the contract too soon but don't let that hate carry over to him just because he isn't immediately worth the 8.5mil/year. He's our top EV strength offensive producer and doesnt have a PP point yet (iirc) this year so far and has done okay adjusting to not playing with McDavid. Given time and faster linemates, he'll continue to develop and round out his game. These things aren't immediate and take time.

Picking him up would mean sending Jesse down or waiving someone else. So probably not.
- Iggysbff

Gryba. Drop Gryba. Rid the team of the scourge that is Gryba. (frank)ing Gryba.

Good luck tonight gents! Hopefully McGod doesn’t destroy us again...
- Clyde334

Your boys should have this in the bag with both Larsson and Talbot out.

Picking him up would mean sending Jesse down or waiving someone else. So probably not.
- Iggysbff

What about walker ?

Davidson is better than gryba at the very least. On his game, I’ll say farvmore effective than auvitu as well.

To be fair, I don’t know our roster space sitch or anything, but yeah, the whole walker thing never made much sense to me. He’s not a scorer or a top 6 guy, so who is he replacing in the bottom 6?
Certainly not kass or Khaira or Letestu.
Or strome

Caggiula ?

Seems like a pointless pick up
Rather Davidson